Wayne Gretzky statue in Edmonton defaced with feces amid criticism of ties to Trump

A bronze statue of NHL legend Wayne Gretzky outside Rogers Place in Edmonton, Canada, was defaced with feces on Friday morning. The incident followed the Edmonton Oilers’ overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets and an injury to star forward Connor McDavid that forced him to leave the game.

According to the Toronto Sun, feces were smeared across Gretzky’s face and on the jersey where the captain’s “C” is typically displayed. CTV News reported that a photographer at the scene noted a strong odor of fecal matter surrounding the statue.

The statue was originally unveiled in 1989 at the old Northlands Coliseum before being relocated to Rogers Place in 2016.

While the motive behind the vandalism remains unclear, it comes amid heightened attention on Gretzky due to ongoing tensions between Canada and the US. Gretzky, a longtime friend of US President Donald Trump, has drawn criticism in Canada as Trump has announced new tariffs on the country and suggested that Canada should join the US as a state. Gretzky previously attended Trump’s inauguration and election victory party.

The hockey icon also faced backlash when he served as honorary captain for Team Canada at the Four Nations Face-Off but gave a thumbs-up to the US team before the championship game. Following this, a petition was launched calling for Edmonton’s Wayne Gretzky Drive to be renamed, and labels on his wine brand have been defaced in some stores.

Trump defended Gretzky, calling him a political “free agent” and stating he did not want “anyone in Canada to say anything bad” about him. Prominent Canadians, including Hall of Fame defenseman Bobby Orr and Maple Leafs forward Max Domi, have also spoken in Gretzky’s defense.

In response to the defacement, Tim Shipton, executive vice president of external affairs for Oilers Entertainment Group, condemned the vandalism and said there have been “issues of disorder” in the area over the last few years.

“We have zero tolerance for vandalism of any kind within our district, especially one of our city’s most iconic landmarks that celebrates the career of Wayne Gretzky, the greatest hockey player to ever play the game, and his special connection with Oilers fans around the world,” Shipton said in a statement.

“We are currently investigating and will take the appropriate next steps as information becomes available,” he added.